Where the Road Can’t Take You

I wanted to write an article about chartering a boat in search of a secret beach, because the non-secret ones are lovely, but require the kind of energy that, after 11 weeks of school holidays, I no longer possess (packing the kids and the car, finding parking, toilets, shade, a beach with no sand because apparently they hate sand now…)  

But I had missed the point entirely. Because when you have a boat, you don’t need a beach at all! Stuff the sand, you just jump off the boat, get back on the boat, lie on the boat’s comfy sand free beds, use the boat’s toilet and have chilled snacks from the boat’s kitchen!

Do you ever play that game where you say, ‘If you could have any of these boats bobbing around in the harbour, which would you have?’ Well we do all the time and my husband always wants the most superyachty looking one. I, however, have always maintained I just want a Greek fishing boat. Which is weird, because we’re in Spain.

So when I saw a reel by @atlantis.charters about this charming little fishing boat with the caption, ‘Sail with us through Mallorca’s secret coves, enjoying local tapas – a unique experience only accessible by sea.’, I felt like it was destiny.

We made our way to the pick-up point on the iconic Hotel Illa d’Or jetty and our captain came and picked us up in Atlantis, his llaüt – a traditional Mallorcan fishing boat.

It was a cinematic scene I can tell you, evoking the glamour of a bygone Mediterranean era. I felt the spirit of Agatha Christie, and she was thoroughly approving.

We made ourselves very comfortable on the refurbished day beds and gently motored northerly around the headland dropping anchor off a cala I had never seen before, with not a soul upon it. A handful of other boats were there and I realised just how differently you experience island life when you have one of your own.

After an hour of swimming and paddleboarding in a sea full of fish we moved further around the coast, the world our oyster. We dove into the clearest waters, swam into caves, basked in the sun, drank cold beers and ate olives. It was perfect.

The two captains of Atlantis are Fede and his wife Feli. The sea has been a lifelong passion for Fede, he’s sailed since childhood, navigating the waters of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil before falling in love with Mallorca, and especially its traditional wooden llaüts.

For many years, he and his wife dreamed of combining their love of the island and their passion for the sea before buying the boat in 2024 and lovingly restoring it themselves.

“Atlantis is much more than a business,” Fede says, “We wanted to create relaxed, authentic days at sea where guests can discover hidden coves and the beauty of Mallorca away from the usual tourist routes. Every time we take guests out onto the water, we feel that our dream becomes a little more real.”

Their dream is our gain. It was honestly the best day of summer.

Atlantis Charters offer 8 hour boat trips for €750, 6 hour boat trips for €650, 4 hour for €530 or 2.5 hour sunset trips for €370. They include tapas, soft drinks beer and water, paddleboard and snorkels and Captain. They leave from Puerto Pollensa every day until November, (weather dependant) visiting La Fortaleza, Playa Formentor, Cala Murta, La Victoria and ‘other secret corners’ of north Mallorca.

Contact Fede on +34 611062419 or follow them on Instagram @Atlantis.charters